I can't figure out what it is. I get the feeling he hurt his back, but he isn't limping.

Here is what I see:

When he goes to stand up, he gets up fine, but is very cautious. But he growls to himself, and makes a weird throat noise like he is in pain somewhere.He bristles his fur near his tail. His body sometimes quivers. He won't run outside with the others even after a squirrel.

He always comes upstairs to sleep, but the past 3 nights, he is staying in the dog den on the twin bed with Lenny. (I had him walk up the stairs and he was slow, but fine.)

When I get their food ready, he usually is up my ass. Now he just waits in the other room until I call him. (He eats/pees/poops fine.No vomiting.)

He is a loner. He prefers to NOT go outside when normally, he was breaking down the door to go play. (No limping noticed.)

He hasn't gotten into any poisons, eating plants in the house or animals outside. (No fur or feathers lying around, and Darlene is the one that usually eats small animals.)

I am at my wits end trying to figure out what it could be. You got anything?

Mac gets up VERY slowly and stiffly if his hips are bothering him, and he's been known to grumble when this happens. Sometimes his hackles go up, too. I usually just enforce rest on him and he's better in a couple of days. I generally don't give him pain meds unless he's REALLY bad, just because I don't want him to injure himself further while the pain is masked by medication.

It does sound as if Truman's back and/or hips are bothering him. Did you see him take a spill or weird slip recently that could have wrenched his back out-of-shape?

If this goes on for another day or so with no signs of improvement, I would definitely take him in for an exam/x-rays.

Never make someone a priority in your life when that someone treats you like an option.

And all the others kept smelling him, like when one returns from the Vet.

Yup, those are the two signs in my household where I KNOW something is going on, but there are no specific signs/symptoms other than an "off-ness". All the dogs (even Mac who normally couldn't care less) have been sniffing Katy a lot lately, so.....

Never make someone a priority in your life when that someone treats you like an option.

No, ice. But he literally throws himself on the ground and wrestles with Lenny for fun.

No Rimadyl in the house.

Off to buy buffered aspirin until Vet sees him. He is rather snarky right now. I am going with 5 mg/pound, but not to exceed 325 mg in 12 hours. (As per all my googling Vet sites and information in our nutrition section.) I will not go by his actual weight of 130 pounds, because that would exceed the amt of 325mg. I will just go with the lower amt.

If anyone has any other interpretation of how much I am giving him, please post it. I will read this before I give it to him. Thanks.

iluvk9 wrote:No, ice. But he literally throws himself on the ground and wrestles with Lenny for fun.

No Rimadyl in the house.

Off to buy buffered aspirin until Vet sees him. He is rather snarky right now. I am going with 5 mg/pound, but not to exceed 325 mg in 12 hours. (As per all my googling Vet sites and information in our nutrition section.) I will not go by his actual weight of 130 pounds, because that would exceed the amt of 325mg. I will just go with the lower amt.

If anyone has any other interpretation of how much I am giving him, please post it. I will read this before I give it to him. Thanks.

I know you checked his back...but will he lay down and let you stretch his legs out, etc? That might give you a better idea if it's his hips...

Awwww,,,,poor Truman (I have secretly adored him afar for sometime now). Would it be out of order to maybe give him a buffered asprin just to keep him comfy for today until he can get into the vet?Sending well wishes.........

In regards to aspirin usage, I would give 5-10mg/# with a small meal and an H2 blocker (pepcid i.e. 30mg-for his weight- once to twice daily) to protect/prevent gastric irritation. If your vet finds that the hips are bothering him, he/she may recommend a "wash-out" period between changing types of NSAIDs. If that is the case, tramadol is a pain med that can help during this time frame. I think your idea of starting at the low end dosage is great until you can get in to see your vet. HTH!

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”~Mahatma Gandhi

IME definitely sounds like a pain response. Could also be abdominal pain like Pancreatitis etc - back pain and abdominal pain can look almost identical; with both he'll be hesitant to lay down or stand, may have a hunched appearance or be reluctant to stretch, and will be careful how he moves and places his feet and steps.

Please do make sure to tell the Vet that Truman has taken the Aspirin when you take him in.

You could also try offering him a Heating Pad or hot water bottle(s for the pony!) to see if it helps for some temporary relief.

Good thoughts for Truman...

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
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"You didn't know of the magical powers of the break stick? It's up there with genies and Harry Potter as far as magic levels go." SisMorphine 01/07/07